Far-right event to be banned
The government yesterday said it would ban a planned festival by European far-right groups set to take place in southern Greece this month out of concern it could stir racist behavior, but organizers responded by saying the event will go ahead as planned. Government spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos said state authorities have not been officially notified about the event scheduled to commence between September 16 and 18 but were aware of it. Known as the «Eurofest 2005,» the festival will allegedly be staged by the ultra-rightist group Chryssi Avgi (Golden Dawn). «The government condemns these gatherings which harbor racist attitudes,» Roussopoulos said. “All measures will be taken as outlined by the constitution and the law.» But the Patriotic Alliance, a group helping to organize the gathering, said the festival will take place as planned. «We have not been informed about such a ban,» Patriotic Alliance secretary Dimitris Zareifopoulos told The Associated Press. Public Order Minister Giorgos Voulgarakis described the event as being «undesirable» for the country.
